Day 3 - ISC IMMERSION RETREAT

On our 3rd day of the immersion we spent the first part of the morning at the ISC Pre-School that is right on the property of the retreat center where we were staying. The children come from around the neighborhood to prepare for entering basic school.

We had a great time with these children and enjoyed the very warm, welcoming and energetic teacher. They sang some songs for us and one of our retreat participants (Mariela) taught the children a song and dance from her country of Uruguay.

Later in the morning we traveled to Assisi Centre in Ng'ombe and were hosted by Sr. Helen. Assisi is a center where they work with special needs children who are mentally challenged. An important part of this ministry is contact with the parents and families of the children. Disabled children are not always well accepted in this culture, so involvement with the parents is essential. There are still strong beliefs in witch craft, etc. in Zambia, so if a person has a sickness or disability it is often believed that the person has been bewitched.

This visit gave me the oportunity to photograph the common way that many people here wash up for meals, etc. Plastic containers with spickets are filled with water and here at the center one of the older boys is helping the younger children wash their hands before being served their food. These plastic containers are especially common in the villages where most people don't have running water and have to carry water from a well.

In the afternoon we had an assignment to travel in pairs in public transportation (mini-bus) to the City Market...purchase a specific item and engage in conversation with various marketeers. Adrian was my partner and we walked up the dirt road and got a bus to town. We were very squashed and sweating in the hot bus. We didn't get off at the right spot and were not sure of the exact route to the market. We saw a very small police station and stopped and asked for directions. The police woman just looked at us and asked where we were from. She was very surprised by our destination! She gave us directions and asked if we wanted a police escort. We turned down the offer of an escort and discovered we were only a few blocks from the market.

The market was a pretty unpleasant place to be. It was very rugged and little "shops" were set up in any open area. The food area was the most unpleasant because there was the smell of fish and meat sitting out in the hot sun. We discovered we were in the "informal market" rather than the "formal market" and after awhile it felt quite unsafe. The farther we walked into the market the scarier the experience became. I was walking a little ways ahead of Adrian and looked back to see exactly where he was and a man saw me looking and pointed to where Adrian was walking. I realized at that point that we were being closely "observed". As we continued to walk we realized that several men were falling in around us and surrounding us. Adrian and I looked at each other and said we better turn round and go back the direction we came. The men continued to follow for a little ways and then started shouting at us asking why were were turning around...it was a very intimidating walk out of the market! Luckily, they gave up and left us alone. I also had an experience of some of the street children grabbing my arms and asking for some kwatch. I have had several situations since being in Zambia when I have not felt very safe. It is one of the consequences of extreme poverty.